I had not planned to attend the fund raising event this year, but when I read that the members of the federal party would be put on the hot seat to answer some of the questions that had to be asked, I changed my mind. Gender Mosaic paid half of my ticket to represent the group, so I went.

Every year I ask Egale about the security issues surrounding a visit to Parliament Hill. Have they dealt with it? Every year I get the same answer. "Oh, its OK." This year I asked the same question. This year I got the same answer. I know a lot of transgender people will not go put themselves to a security clearance check as their gender identities and legal identities differ. Well, we did have to go through a security check at the front door of the West Block and walk down the camera-laden hallways to the reception room on the second floor.

I was a little early so I had the chance to talk with some old friends and to have a drink. In the middle of the reception room was a huge table filled with nothing but fruit, no cheese or crackers, just fruit! I was hoping for finger food placed on steam tables to be rolled out soon. Boy was I disappointed! Food servers entered the room carrying little trays of escargot, sushi, and some little thingies on sticks, representing food. Moving throughout the room they got rid of the stuff on their trays and quickly retreated to the back room where the trays were filled again. One server had a tray containing some sort of fried chicken bits on a long skewer sticks. Another server had small tray of edible meatballs. It was a good thing the bar was open.

Another disappointment was the Hot Seat. I had thought that, as in previous years, microphones would be present to enable community members to ask questions, and for the audience to hear the answers from the three political representatives who attended. Either Egale or the event organizers had other plans. The stage was set at one corner of the room where the entertainment and MC did their thing. The Hot Seat was in another corner away from the flow of people traffic. In order to ask a question one had to raise their voice in order to be heard over the din emanating from the other corner. Questions on transgender issues and human rights were acknowledged with a "Yes, and we will see what we can do. Please talk to my EA for more information." This year, only the Green Party, the Liberals and the NDP were represented, as opposed to last year when representatives of all of the political parties across Canada took the time to attend.

Will I attend next year? Until next time. Ta Ta...Joanne